Video: Understanding chart terminology

When you're creating charts and changing chart types, certain terms are likely to appear frequently. Some charts are clustered, some are stacked, some are 100% stacked. Let's take a look at one of the charts, for example, on this worksheet chart data. If we click the chart below this. This might be the ideal chart. Maybe you're not sure. You might want to change the chart type. On the Ribbon you'll see the term Design, off to the right, Change Chart Type. Recognize the term Clustered Column.

Charts allow you to communicate information visually, in a way that's more impactful than raw data, and they happen to be one of the most powerful and easy-to-use features in Microsoft Excel. Let Dennis Taylor show you how to create different kinds of Excel charts, from column, bar, and line charts to exploded pies, and decide which type works best for your data. Plus, learn how to fine-tune your chart's color and style; add titles, labels, and legends; insert shapes, pictures, and text boxes; and pull data from multiple sources.

Topics include:

Selecting the right chart type

Choosing data to display as a chart

Creating charts fast with the Quick Analysis tool

Choosing a chart layout

Changing the location of the source data

Dealing with empty and hidden cells

Moving and resizing charts

Adding data labels

Analyzing existing and future data with trendlines

Adding shapes and arrows

Working with column, bar, line, pie, and area charts

Working with specialized chart types: Gantt, Pareto, and Frequency charts

Understanding chart terminology

When you're creating charts and changing chart types, certain terms are likely toappear frequently. Some charts are clustered, some arestacked, some are 100% stacked. Let's take a look at one of the charts,for example, on this worksheet chart data. If we click the chart below this.This might be the ideal chart. Maybe you're not sure.You might want to change the chart type. On the Ribbon you'll see the term Design,off to the right, Change Chart Type. Recognize the term Clustered Column.

That's the kind of chart we're seeing right now.Perhaps the most common chart type, it's likely to be the default chart type as youwork with Excel, too. Notice another choice to the right of itis called Stacked Column, and we'll talk later about the advantages anddisadvantages of that. And then another choice called 100%Stacked Column. Now we see those terms with columns, if wedecide to use a bar chart we'll see those same terms.A clustered bar, a stacked bar, a hundred percent.

On a line chart, we don't see that term clustered but we will see a stacked line.And also, 100 percent stacked line. And with area charts, we'll see these as well.And so at different times when you work with different chart types.You will see these terms. That's a standard area chart.It doesn't really have a word in front of it, just like line.Here's a Stacked Area chart and 100% Stacked Area as well.And even with combo charts we'll see these terms, but in a different way.There's a Clustered Column in line. And here is a Clustered Column LineSecondary Access. Here's on Stacked Area Clustered Column.

So those terms clustered and stacked at 100%, we will see at different times.Of those three, perhaps the one most of you will not be using very often, is thecalled 100% Stacked Column, but it does have it's specialized uses.And so as we start to work with different chart types, again, recognize these terms,100% stacked, stacked, and perhaps most common, clustered.And here we're seeing them with columns.

Learn by watching, listening, and doing, Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along Premium memberships include access to all exercise files in the library.

Already a member ?

Learn by watching, listening, and doing! Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along. Exercise files are available with all Premium memberships.
Learn more

Upgrade to our Annual Premium Membership today and get even more value from your lynda.com subscription:

“In a way, I feel like you are rooting for me. Like you are really invested in my experience, and want me to get as much out of these courses as possible this is the best place to start on your journey to learning new material.”— Nadine H.

Thanks for signing up.

We’ll send you a confirmation email shortly.

Sign up and receive emails about lynda.com and our online training library:

new course releases

newsletter

general communications

special notices

Here’s our privacy policy with more details about how we handle your information.

Keep up with news, tips, and latest courses with emails from lynda.com.

Sign up and receive emails about lynda.com and our online training library:

new course releases

newsletter

general communications

special notices

Here’s our privacy policy with more details about how we handle your information.